Variable time mechanism



June 29, 1948. c, WELLINGTON 2,444,411

VARIABLE TIME MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0949? L. wc'auuG June 29, 1948. c, WELLINGTON 2,444,411

VARIABLE TIME MECHANISM Filed Jan. 3, 1947 s Shets-Sheet 2 mmmunmmnumuuum [HEY L.WEL1 INETUN June 29, 1948. c. L. WELLINGTON 1 VARIABLE TIME MECHANISM Filed Jan. 3, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ;0 [HEY LM/ELL/NEZUN m Patented June 29, 1948 UNl'i'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,444,411

VARIABLE TIME MECHANISM Gary L. Wellington, Long Island City, N. Y., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of War Application January 3, 1947, Serial No. 720,040

9 Claims.

My invention relates to variable time mechanisms and while particularly adaptable to variable time, arming devices for bomb, shell, mine, grenade, rocket and like fuses, is readily adaptable for use with any other non-military mechanism for setting the same in operation at a predetermined future time.

With the foregoing in view, an object of my invention is to provide an improved variable time mechanism.

A further object is to provide an improved combination of a variable time mechanism and presetting tool therefor.

A further object is to provide novel pre-setting tool for a variable time mechanism.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts, and in the particular method of operation, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the drawing and following detailed description wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed;

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a longitudinal section through one form of the device;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken substantially on the plane of the line v2--2 of Fig, 1, but showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of a part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the linedi of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end and elevation View of a detent;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing the pre-setting tool in use;

Fig. '7 is a view like Fig. 6, but showing a knob and dial arrangement of pre-setting means; and

Fig. 8 is an elevation showing a modified form of pro-setting tool.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout to designate like parts, a head member it is provided with any suitable source of power, in this case the wind driven vane I l. The vane H has a shaft I? mounted in bearings I2 of head member I 0. The inner end of shaft I3 extends inwardly of the head member and the inner end thereof mounts a pinion l4. Any suitable gear train, in this case a reduction gear train, connects the pinion M with a second pinion l5, which is rotatably mounted in a casing 9, which is connected to the head member ID, in any suitable manner as by being threaded thereto.

The pinion i5, is formed with an internally threaded axial bore and is threaded on the threaded portion 16 of a variably-settable detent H. The outer or head end of the detent I1 is cross-shaped or otherwise shaped in section, to provide a keyway, and is slidably fitted in a cylindrical passage 18 which is formed in and extends through the head member I0, parallel to the axis thereof. A spring-loaded latch member [9 is mounted in the head member ID so as to extend into the passage l8 radially thereof for engagement in the keyw-ay formed by the arms of the cross-shaped portion of detent IT to prevent rotation thereof upon rotation of the pinion l5. The direction of rotation of the pinion I5 is such that it drives the detent l7 towards the outer face of the head member It. The inner end 20 of the detent I! is unthreaded and extends through a clutch connector member 2! and maintains the same out of engagement with a driving clutch member 22 which is constantly rotated by the gear train and which is freely rotatable with respect to a driven shaft 23. A spring 24 loads the connector 21 for movement in a direction to engage the driving clutch 22.

Any suitable gearing, as the gears 25 and 26, the former connected to the gear. train aforesaid and the latter being rigidly connected to the driving clutch 22, constantly rotate the latter when the vane H is rotated. A driven clutch member 21 is fixed on the driven shaft 23, and the'connector 2| is slidably mounted in a recess Zia, in one face thereof. The driven shaft 23 is connected to any suitable mechanism, not shown, which is to be operated or powered by the vane l I.

In operation, the detent it is screwed into the passage l8 a predetermined distance, depending upon the setting desired. It is understood that the rounded end of the member l9 permits a ratchet action,=if sufficient pressure is applied. Thereafter, a predetermined number of rotations of the drive shaft 13 and pinion l5 causes the engagement of the internal threads of the latter with the threads iii of the detent to move said detent in a direction to withdraw the unthreaded end 20 of the detent from its engagement with the connector 2|, whereupon the spring 24 forces the connector 2| into one of the notches or recesses 22a of the driving clutch 22, and locks the same to the driven clutch 21. Thereafter, continued rotation of the drive shaft 13 will rotate the driven shaft 23, and the mechanism connected thereto.

In the embodiment shown, the device comprises an arming mechanism for a bomb fuse. However, this is but one of many applications of the device, and any suitable driving means may be substituted for the wind driven vane I I.

The ore-setting tools 40, shown in Fig. 6, may be of any suitable form and, as illustrated, comprises a screw driver 4| which is lnsertable in the opening 18, and which operatively engages the slot 11a of the shaft l1. A stop 42 is provided on tool 40 to engage the wall of casing I and thereby limit the distance the shaft I! may be inserted.

To obtain a variable setting, 40 may be provided, each having a part 4| of the correct length for the setting desired. Or, as in Fig. 8, I may provide a setting tool 50 wherein the stop 52 may be adjustably positioned at any de sirable point on part 5| according to the fixed scale 54. A set screw 53 or the 52 in the adjusted position:

Fig. 'I shows still another form of adjustment a collection of tools' like can locidstnp:

wherein the setting part 62 is=provided with a cross-shaped slot 63 which slidably receives the cross-shaped shaft IT. The slot long and the setting is read from the fixed and movable scalesfifl and fifig respectively, upon ro-' tation urine knob 60.

' While-LhaVe'shUWn and describe'd what are now thought to be the preferred forms :of the invention; it-is obvious that the same is susceptiblev ofother expressions and modifications. Consequently, I donot limit myself to the precise structures disclosed 'hereinbefore except as hereina-fter claimed.-

I claim:

l; A variable time mechanism, comprising a gear-train, means for driving isaid'gear train, a driving clutch member constantly rotated by said gear traini, asdriven clutch member normally disengagedlfrom said driving member, a movable connector carried by'said driven member, a spring loading said connector for movement into engagement with saiddriving member whereby to connect said clutch'members together for rotation as aunit," a hole through said connector, .a shaft having a free end extending through said hole to hold said connector outof engagementwith said driving member, meansmounting said shaft for axial movement, a threaded portion on said shaft inwardlyofthe free end thereof; a gear threaded on saidathreaded portion and in constant rotative engagementwith said-gear train, means preventingaxialimovement of said gear, means for preventingirotative movement of said shaft whereby rotationt of said gear moves said shaft in a direction to disengage the free end thereof fromsaid connector;- and means for variably positioning said: shaft relative to said connector to vary the time .required to disengage said shaft and connectoia-v 2; A variable-time mechanism, comprising a gean train, means for driving 'saidigear train adriving clutch: member constantly'rotated by said gear train, a drivenvclutchmembernormally disengaged: from said-driving member, a connector carried by ,sai'd driven member and movable-to connectithe same to said driving memberfor rotation: therewith, a detent engaging said connectortoriiold the same outf engagement with said driving" member ran-d movable to disengage I said- COHTIECtOITiEYldIfYeG the same for movement into engagement width :1 said driving- :memb er, means 'inovableby said gear train and nperativelyzass'm c'iated with i saiddetent to move the same" out of: engagement Withsaid connector, and pre setti'rfg means for varyingtne time required to disengage said detent frbm said connector:

3. A variable" time mechanism; comprising driv ing and driven "clutch membersnormally dis engaged fromeacnother,"driving means for r0 B3 is relativelyi said connector.

4:A- variable time mechanism, comprising driving and driven clutch members normally disengagec froni eachother, driving means for rotating said driviiig member, connecting means movabitb conifect' s'aid clutch members for rotation as a-uni-t,-means holding said connecting means out of operative connection with at least on'e ci'titch member, means actuated by said driving means for releasing said holding means from said connecting-means, and pre 'setting means f or varyingi'tire time requird' torelease" said holding:

means from said connectingmeans- 5z A' variable 1 time; arming: mechanism for a fuse; comprising a-driver'i arming shaft, a'driven clutch member" fixed onsaid'shaft; a" driving clutch member normally disengaged from said driven member; connecting; means for connectingasaidclutchmembers'together-for rotation as a unit, actuating means for actuating said' connectingxmeans to connect said clutch' -members,

drivingmeansfor said driving clutch ,member and said actuating means and' pre s'etting means for varyingthe time required for actuating. said connecting means."

6. A' variable time; arming mechanism for a fuse, comprising; a driving i clutch member anddriving: means f or the same, a driven clutch member normally disengaged fron'r said driving-mem ber, nieans actuated lay-said driving means for operativelyi' connectingsaid clutch members, and pre set means :for varying 'the time-"of actuation of said connecting means.

7. A variable time mechanism, comprising a casing, a 'gear train in said'oasing," means for driving said gear train, a driving: clutch member in saidcasing-' androtated bysai'dgear train, a driven clutch m'ember in-said casingnormally disengagedfrem said 'driving member, a movable connector carried" by; said-'- driven member, a spring carried by said dr ivenmember and loadingsaid connec'torfor movement radially of said driven-member into I operative engagement with said'driving member to'operatively connect said clutch members; a' hole through said connector, a

shaft in said casi ng having afree end extending into said hole 'a selectivelyivarying distance to holdsaid conhector out of' engagement with said driving member, means mounting said shaft in said casing 'for axial movement, a threaded portion on said shaftj a 'ge'ar threaded 'on said ti-ireacea portion and 1 rotatably connected to said gear-train,means-preventing axial movement of said gear; means 'carr 'iedbysaid casing for preventing-rotatable movement of said shaft whereby rctatiemor saic gear moves said shaft in a direction to-witndrawfrom-said hole at the free end thereof-, said 'shaft being adapted to be pre-set' in said casin'g -and conn'ector Tt0" vary3 tlf'ie time required to di's'enga'ge the samefrom sa'id connector.

8." The structure of blaim ll said means for preventing rotatidn of 'said shaft comprising a plu-' rality *of spiins-br'i theother end 'of said shaft andaspring lo'aded latonca'rried by said casing and engageable-vvith said splines;

6 9. The structure of claim 7, said means for pre- REFERENCES CITED venting rotation of said shaft comprising a plurality of splines on the other end of said shaft g i i g g si fg are of lecord m the and a spring loaded latch carried by said casing p and engageable with said splines, means for pre- 5 TED STATES PATENTS setting said shaft, comprising an access opening Number Name Date in said casing for the splined end of said shaft 239 492 Armistead Dec 4 1883 adapted to receive a pre-setting tool engageable 1 with the splined end of said shaft. OREIGN PATENTS 10 Number Country Date CARY WELLINGTON 573,557 France Mar, 13, 1924 

